Don't recognize yourself?

1 Stand in front of a mirror in underclothes or something close fitting. Look at your profile and identify the widest part of your bottom half.

2 If you're undecided ask a friend to help. Ask her to stand behind and put her hands each side of your waist, running them firmly down your sides to find your widest part. Disregard body fat, you're feeling for bone structure.

3 If you can't figure out your hip shape you're probably lucky and don't have a problem in the hip
area. If you need help to fit your figure in other areas check out your own individual BODY SHAPE for lots more styling tips.

How to fit different HIP SHAPES...

If some women have HIPS in one place and some in another - how do we ever find anything to fit?

Did you know that clothes are designed and specially made for these two very distinct hip shapes? Unless
a garment is completely minute and stretchy it will be cut to fit either one of these.

Some manufacturers will design for
one shape of woman and some for another. Crazy
isn't it? Why has no-one ever thought to tell us that? You probably
haven't even realized the shapes that you have in your closet...

Look how different these skirts are...

The skirt on the left is cut for CURVED HIPS - the waist is neat and the darts are long and deep.

This cut means that the widest part of the skirt is at thigh level - anything from 7 - 10 inches below the waist - just about at the top of her left hand.

Below the thigh, the skirt will then taper in gently towards the knee.

If a straight hip shape wears this skirt, there will be excess fabric on the thighs, giving the appearance of 'jodpurs'.

This shaping can be on any length skirt.

This skirt is cut for STRAIGHT HIPS. Because there is little waist definition, there is likely to be only a narrow waistband or sometimes no waistband at all.

The darts are short as the skirt widens immediately below the waist to accommodate the high hipbone.

Because the thighs are roughly the same width as the hips, there is no need for further shaping.

If a Curved hip tries to wear this skirt, it will ride up as there's not enough fabric in the thigh area.

This shaping can be on any length skirt, not just a mini!

Do you have changing room problems?

Can you look at a skirt and know if it's the right shape for you? When you do find a brand that fits you well and is comfortable, remember the name!

But... Have you ever been in a changing room trying to squeeze into a skirt - standing sideways breathing in - holding in your tummy - blaming yourself that you're too fat!!

You know what? It's not your fault - It's just the WRONG SKIRT for you!